July 31, 2012

What Do You Do the Day Before Your Book Releases?

Surely there must be some handbook on how to handle a compromised mental state the day before the release of a new book?

If there is, please send it to me because I'm floundering over here like, well, like a person who just moved for the third time in two years.

Because my life is horribly exciting, I've decided that the day before my book releases I will:

1. Drink too much coffee. (This is already happening)

2. Take my middle child over to a friend's house (despite the fact that his hair is like an overgrown shrub.)

3. Wander around the kitchen looking for magic beans. (They must be there somewhere?)

4. Break up 14.7 arguments that are on their way to becoming fights. (I'm wearing a whistle as I type this.)

5. Try not to obsess over whether or not anyone will read/like my second book. (ha. As if. (I am channeling Alicia Silverstone there...))

I've been known to be slightly neurotic. Something I'm trying to camouflage with pretty flower pictures. Is it working? People who know me are snickering and saying, "That's the understatement of the year." I know they're right but I like to be kind to myself when it counts. Like when I'm being slightly neurotic.

But putting a book out there for the world to read is suprisingly scary. One might deduce that since I write this blog and share every little darn tidbit of my life that I have no qualms about letting people in. This is so not the truth.

These books are like a part of my soul. You can imagine there are pieces of me throughout... and knowing that you're baring that soul and that people may not like it...well, it's frightening. I'm not gonna lie.

I think giveaways are the doctor-prescribed way to ward off neuroses, don't you? So over the next few days, in an effort to spread the word about my new book, I've got lots of fun things planned. Scrapbooky and NOT scrapbooky, readerly and NOT readerly.

Something for everyone, if you will...

So come back tomorrow and we'll celebrate together. Because the day is finally here... A Sweethaven Homecoming joins our little world.

OH! And I bet you're wondering who won the giveaway??? I did a random drawing and counted all the 200+ (THANK YOU!) comments to select:

coloradoks said...

There are a lot of people who responded here...but here goes: I don't t like to eat or drink anything from the fridge if it at any point it was uncovered during it's time in the fridge b/c it tastes like the fridge...I just can't do it!

12 Comments

OH - how did I miss Sweet Haven Christmas???? Have no fear Courtney, I will be buying and I'm sure loving, Sweet Haven Homecoming. I loved the first and am sure I will love this next one. Deep breaths. Find a room that is quiet (ha! hard to do isn't it?). Go there. Close your eyes. Still your heart and your breathing. Concentrate on your core and breath in and out for a few minutes. You will be surprised how much this helps. Best of luck for tomorrow's release!

Thanks you guys...I'm beside myself that I won! So very excited...as I just finished a sweethaven summer on vacation and glad I get to read the sweethaven homecoming and already can't wait for the Christmas one! Gosh, Courtney is a captivating writer...thanks Courtney for sharing your talents with the world!

Congrats to Kelly! And yes, I know it is scary to put your soul on paper, but I want to thank your for sharing that part of you. That is what makes your books so wonderful! (btw - M&M's always help me when I am stressed - lol!)
Joanne xo

Congrats, Colorakoks! Courtney, I went to Amazon.com and ordered ALL your books...have received 3, including A Sweethaven Homecoming and waiting on Scrapbooking Your Faith. I am looking forward to reading them all. Did I miss something? Is the Christmas book out yet?

Have no fear, my friend, we all love what we have already read and look forward to many, many more...and then "movies"...the sky's the limit! You paint pictures wit your words and those picures color our lives. We are better for your writings!